a labor of love
by Angela Ashcroft
If ever there was a time leadership mattered, it’s now. For most of us, leadership is a learned skill, while some are seemingly born with it. Express Employment Professionals’ co-owner Angela Ashcraft is definitive on the subject — business owners need to foster it in their workers to ensure continued growth and success.
“Nurturing leadership brings your business to next-level success. Think of it this way, if you will. A company’s workforce could have up to five generations working side by side. However, as more experienced professionals retire, the leadership gap they leave behind could be an issue for the business.”
Developing the next generation of leaders within your business is as essential as cultivating a core workforce. Nurturing leadership brings your business to next-level success. Despite the imminent demand for leadership positions, a study by the Human Resources Professionals Association revealed that 63 percent of millennials report a lack of leadership development within their organizations. To ensure businesses don’t face a leadership shortage, developing the next generation of leaders is key. Below, I’ve listed proposals for you or your current leadership if you’re not already focused on this aspect of your company.
1. Offer Employee Development Opportunities: According to LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report, 94 percent of employees say they would stay at an organization longer if offered more growth opportunities. Professional growth is important for employees, but few are content with the existing opportunities offered. Another recent study cited 30 percent of employees consider career development opportunities “very important,” but only 30 percent of workers are happy with what they currently receive. To ensure you retain your workforce, offer employee development opportunities. Whether it’s an online course, virtual training sessions, or discounted education rates, building a culture on growth now will pay exponential dividends in the future.
2. Develop a Mentorship Program: By connecting young professionals with tenured leaders, employees not only learn and gain wisdom, but leadership also sees gains through productivity and growth. According to NationalMentoringDay.org., 67 percent of companies experienced an increase in employee productivity directly related to mentorship programs, and 55 percent reported mentorships having a direct positive impact on overall profits.
3. Focus on Succession Planning: Developing the next leaders to take over key aspects of an organization in the future is what drives employee development. Failure to focus on them can be disastrous in the long term. Have open communication about the future of your business, determine which employees are interested in long-term solutions, and begin cross-training them. Cross-training is a great way to ensure employees have a well-rounded view of the company and allows leaders to focus on sustainability.
4. Recruit, Train, and Retain! When building a corporate culture of sustainability focused on development and personal growth, it’s important to hire the right workers who fit the values of your company. Recruit individuals with the skills and desire to grow within the company and offer them opportunities to grow into your next leaders.
Express Employment Professionals
3662 Dauphin StreetSuite B Mobile, AL 251.476.8210
20210 State Highway 59Suite 3 Summerdale, AL 251.989.5500
This post has been modified for the web. Read the original article in full in the December 2021 issue of ACCESS Magazine.
